SB 1300

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law requires the State Department of Public Health to license, regulate, and inspect health facilities, as specified, including general acute care hospitals. A violation of these provisions is a crime. Under existing law, a general acute care hospital is required to provide certain basic services, including medical, nursing, surgical, anesthesia, laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, and dietary services. Existing law authorizes a general acute care hospital to provide various special or supplemental services if certain conditions are met. Existing regulations define a supplemental service as an organized inpatient or outpatient service that is not required to be provided by law or regulation. Existing law requires a health facility to provide 90 days of public notice of the proposed closure or elimination of a supplemental service, and 120 days of public notice of the proposed closure or elimination of an acute psychiatric hospital. This bill would change the notice period required before proposed closure or elimination of the supplemental service of inpatient psychiatric service or maternity service from 90 days to 120 days. By changing the definition of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would authorize the hospital to close the inpatient psychiatric service or maternity service 90 days after providing public notice of the closure if the department determines that the use of resources to keep the inpatient psychiatric services or maternity services open for the full 120 days threatens the stability of the hospital or if the department determines the hospital cannot maintain required staffing levels due to employee attrition. Before a health facility may provide notice of a proposed closure or elimination of an inpatient psychiatric service or maternity service, this bill would require the facility to provide an impact analysis report, as specified, regarding the impact on the health of the community resulting from the proposed elimination of the services. By changing the requirements on a health care facility, the violation of which is a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would require that the impact analysis report be delivered to the local county board of supervisors and to the department. The bill also would require the cost of preparing the impact analysis report to be borne by the hospital. The bill would strongly encourage the board of supervisors to hold a public hearing within 15 days of receipt of the report, as specified, and to post the impact analysis report on its internet website. The bill would require, if the loss of beds will have an impact on the health of the community, that the State Department of Public Health prioritize and expedite the licensing of additional beds to replace the number of lost beds necessary to mitigate the negative impacts identified in the impact analysis report. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.